One month on, questions swirl around Jackson
Saturday, 25 July 2009
LOS ANGELES, July 24 (AFP): His cause of death remains unknown, the whereabouts of his body is a mystery, the fate of his estate and children are uncertain and conspiracy theories abound.
Almost one month after Michael Jackson collapsed and died at his rented Los Angeles chateau on June 25, the tragic King of Pop's demise continues to raise more questions than answers.
In the clearest sign yet that authorities may be zeroing in on what caused the 50-year-old superstar's death, federal agents and police Wednesday raided the Houston offices of Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray.
A lawyer for Murray, who has already been interviewed twice by police, said detectives executed a search warrant seeking evidence of "the offense of manslaughter," indicating Jackson's death is now being treated as a crime.
Murray, hired by Jackson in May to help him prepare for his gruelling series of comeback concerts, has been the subject of intense speculation as he was the last person to see the star alive.
Yet Murray's lawyers are adamant that the 51-year-old cardiologist is innocent of any criminal wrongdoing.
"Based on Dr Murray's minute-by-minute and item-by-item description of Michael Jackson's last days, he should not be a target of criminal charges," attorney Ed Chernoff said in a statement Tuesday.
Investigators are reportedly focusing on the role of a powerful sedative, Diprivan, found at Jackson's home after his death.
Experts say the drug, used in hospitals to induce unconsciousness in patients before major surgery, should only be administered by an anesthesiologist and should never be used at home.
Whether Diprivan was present in Jackson's body at the time of his death has not been revealed. Investigators from the Los Angeles County Coroner's office say they are still awaiting the results of toxicology tests carried out at a post mortem on June 26. A cause of death has been deferred pending the results.
Almost one month after Michael Jackson collapsed and died at his rented Los Angeles chateau on June 25, the tragic King of Pop's demise continues to raise more questions than answers.
In the clearest sign yet that authorities may be zeroing in on what caused the 50-year-old superstar's death, federal agents and police Wednesday raided the Houston offices of Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray.
A lawyer for Murray, who has already been interviewed twice by police, said detectives executed a search warrant seeking evidence of "the offense of manslaughter," indicating Jackson's death is now being treated as a crime.
Murray, hired by Jackson in May to help him prepare for his gruelling series of comeback concerts, has been the subject of intense speculation as he was the last person to see the star alive.
Yet Murray's lawyers are adamant that the 51-year-old cardiologist is innocent of any criminal wrongdoing.
"Based on Dr Murray's minute-by-minute and item-by-item description of Michael Jackson's last days, he should not be a target of criminal charges," attorney Ed Chernoff said in a statement Tuesday.
Investigators are reportedly focusing on the role of a powerful sedative, Diprivan, found at Jackson's home after his death.
Experts say the drug, used in hospitals to induce unconsciousness in patients before major surgery, should only be administered by an anesthesiologist and should never be used at home.
Whether Diprivan was present in Jackson's body at the time of his death has not been revealed. Investigators from the Los Angeles County Coroner's office say they are still awaiting the results of toxicology tests carried out at a post mortem on June 26. A cause of death has been deferred pending the results.